How much will Pacific players be paid at the Rugby League World Cup?

Players participating in the 2026 Rugby League World Cup will receive a standard match fee of AU$850 per week, the International Rugby League (IRL) confirmed on Thursday. This fee structure applies equally to both male and female players representing Australia.

Reports had circulated that Australian players might receive a flat payment of AU$40,000, a figure the IRL clarified is part of a separate deal between the Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) and the Rugby League Players' Association (RLPA), not funded by the World Cup itself. This payment structure for Australian teams was reportedly set during previous negotiations and was also in place for the 2022 World Cup, with an increase for the women's team this year.

In contrast, players from Pacific nations such as Cook Islands, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, and Tonga will receive AU$2,550 for three weeks of play. This amount increases to AU$3,440 if they reach the top four and AU$4,250 if they make it to the final.

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Players receive a standard fee for each match they play and 50% of any prize money is shared equally among the squad, irrespective of appearances.

Danny Kazandjian, the IRL Secretary General, explained that players are remunerated in two ways: a standard fee for each match played and an equal share of 50% of any prize money distributed among the squad, regardless of individual appearances. He noted that the match fee is a new initiative for the tournament, introduced by the host organization, ARLC.

Kazandjian also emphasized that all participating squads have their expenses covered, including flights, internal transportation, meals, and accommodation in the host countries: Australia, Papua New Guinea, and New Zealand. National federations have the option to supplement the contracted match fee from their own budgets if they choose to pay their players additional amounts.

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Should participant national federations choose to pay their own national team players in addition to the contracted RLWC match fee, that is up to them.